Mass. sues charity for alleged deceptive practices

BOSTON (AP) — The state has sued a veterans' charity and its professional fundraisers for allegedly using deceptive tactics to raise money.

The Massachusetts attorney general's office said Thursday that Dynamic Marketing Solutions Inc. working on behalf of Bay State Vietnam Veterans Inc. called potential donors and told them that 100 percent of their donation would benefit veterans. Officials said only 15 percent went to veterans while Dynamic kept 85 percent.

The complaint filed in Suffolk Superior Court also alleges that Dynamic's paid fundraisers falsely stated they were volunteers for the charity and, in some cases, falsely said they were veterans.

Neither Somerset-based Bay State Vietnam Veterans nor Rhode Island-based Dynamic Marketing Solutions had a comment on the suit, which seeks $5,000 in civil penalties for each deceptive act found by a court.